Scientists at UC San Diego have demonstrated that a key cellular enzyme can accurately read an eight-letter genetic alphabet, potentially doubling the four DNA letters used by all known life. Using detailed imaging, researchers found that RNA polymerase—the enzyme responsible for copying genetic information—can recognize and process synthetic DNA letters in ways surprisingly similar to natural ones. The breakthrough could bring scientists closer to creating expanded genetic systems capable of storing information and performing biological functions beyond those possible with nature’s standard four-letter code. While the research is still at an early stage, it offers an important step toward engineering new forms of genetic information and expanding the possibilities of synthetic biology.
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